Molson Brewery (Edmonton) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Molson Brewery
The former Molson brewery in 2008.
General information
Architectural style	Gothic Revival
Location	Edmonton, Alberta
Country	Canada
Completed	1913
Design and construction
Architect	Bernard Barthel

The Molson Brewery in Edmonton, Alberta, was once a very important building. For many years, from 1913 to 2007, it was a busy place where drinks were made for people across Alberta, Canada. This old brewery has a long and interesting story.

History of the Molson Brewery

Building the Brewery

The Molson Brewery building was finished in 1913. It was built by William Henry Sheppard. He was a local businessman who owned hotels and was also a politician. He had even been the mayor of Strathcona.

Mr. Sheppard bought land in an area called Groat Estates. He wanted to make his brewery company bigger. He hired an architect named Bernard Barthel from Chicago. Barthel was known for designing breweries that looked like old castles from Germany. The building cost a lot of money to build, about $250,000.

Changes in Ownership

In 1927, a man named Fritz Sick bought the brewery. He was from Lethbridge. Later, in 1958, a much larger company called Molson took over the brewery.

Molson House

In 1961, Molson built a special building in front of the brewery. It was designed to look like an old fur trade fort. This building was called Molson House. It was used as a welcoming place for customers and guests.

In 2008, the company that owned the site, Molson-Coors, offered to give Molson House away. They said any group could have it if they paid to move it. An Edmonton family bought the building. It was carefully taken apart and moved in 2011.

Why the Brewery Closed

The Molson Brewery closed its doors in August 2007. There were a few reasons for this. Workers at the brewery were on strike at the time. Also, people started buying more drinks in cans instead of bottles. The company also lost a big contract to make another brand of drink. Because of the closure, 136 people lost their jobs.

Future Plans

Today, there are plans to change the old brewery site. The idea is to keep the historic brewery building. New homes, shops, and businesses will be built around it.

Images for kids

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  Edmonton Brewery District